Update*
Governor Newsom has NOT ordered ALL California beaches closed… He has announced he never wanted to do so…His order will be just form Orange County beaches…His actions are going to court…
California’s HAD been going to the beach in big numbers…
But the state that had small numbers of virus infections has a spike upwards in the last week ….
The overall situation in the state is confusing , with some counties moving to relax restrictions and the Governor’s talking about openings, but then announcing closures…
Things ARE gonna get REAL interesting out there….
Gov. Gavin Newsom will order all beaches and state parks closed starting Friday after people thronged the seashore during a sweltering weekend despite his social distancing order that aims to slow the spread of the coronavirus, according to a memo sent to police chiefs around the state.
Eric Nuñez, president of the California Police Chiefs Association, said it was sent to the group’s members Wednesday evening so they have time to plan ahead of Newsom’s expected announcement Thursday.
A message to the governor’s office seeking comment wasn’t immediately returned. The memo was first reported by the Los Angeles TV station Fox 11.
While most state parks and many local beaches, trails and parks have been closed for weeks, Newsom’s order is sure to ignite pushback from communities who argue that they can safely provide some relief to residents who are starved of fresh air.
Pressure is building to to ease state and local restrictions that have throttled the economy, closing most businesses and adding nearly 4 million people to the unemployment rolls.
On Wednesday, six San Francisco Bay Area counties that imposed the first broad stay-at-home orders in California because of the coronavirus loosened them slightly to allow for landscaping, construction and other outdoor businesses, such as flea markets and nurseries, so long as social distancing is maintained.
And in what could be a critical addition for many parents, it specifies that summer camps are allowed, but only if kids stay in small groups and their parents are considered to hold essential jobs under the state order, such as health care workers.
Some recreational bans also were eased, but not all in exactly the same way. For instance, tennis will be OK in Sacramento starting Friday, but not in San Francisco.
Compounding the confusion: Some elements of the revised orders won’t take effect because they conflict with the statewide stay-at-home order, which is still in place….
image…apnews
Newsom IS in trouble on the beach closures…
As it gets into the summer heat season Governor’s will be forced to open beaches and parks…
They will have no choice…
….
Los Angeles Times
@latimes
Under fire for beach closures, Newsom teases announcement in ‘days, not weeks’ on reopening California
Update* on this…
Newsom says only Orange Cty beaches ..NOT the entire state…
The whole “social distancing “ thing is going to fairly rapidly break down going forward.
I alluded to this in a post earlier this week.
As I stated then, there is developing a general attitude that “if I get it I get it.”
The problem will be ,of course,more infections ,more hospitalizations, and of course more deaths.
Yup….
People ARE getting impatient….
Judge refuses to block Newsom’s order closing Orange County beaches
In a victory for Gov. Gavin Newsom, an Orange County judge on Friday rejected a request from Huntington Beach seeking a temporary restraining order to keep beaches open.
More…
No judge I would presume is gonna put THEIR ass on the line…
But this isn’t about health…
It’s about politics and headlines….
ALL. of California’s beaches are now OPEN…
They will all do this soon…
The Wall Street Journal
@WSJ
From
@WSJopinion
: California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision to lift the state’s strict lockdown is a concession to political and public-health reality, writes The Editorial Board. We hope other Democratic governors follow.
Add Maryland….
Maryland’s coronavirus case numbers are trending in the right direction, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said Wednesday, and the first phase of the state’s plan to reopen could begin as soon as next week.
Overall COVID-19 hospitalizations have decreased slightly in the past week, and the number of intensive care admissions has plateaued for the past eight days, Hogan said.
“If these trends continue into next week, we will be ready to lift the stay-at-home order” and begin the first tier of the reopening process, he said….
More…
…
But school’s are closed until Sept like other states…
Maryland schools will be closed for the remainder of the academic year, the state’s Superintendent of Schools Karen Salmon announced Wednesday.
Salmon said that when students do return to school, it’s possible some could attend on alternating days or weeks and continue remote learning at home when they are not in the classroom. Salmon also said school systems could choose to bring back students with specific needs, such as students with disabilities and English language learners…
More…